A chilling dawn broke over North York Tuesday morning with news of a fatal shooting. Police responded to a call just after 5:25 a.m., finding a man already suffering from critical gunshot wounds. Despite swift transport to a local hospital, he succumbed to his injuries, leaving investigators scrambling for answers.
Hours earlier, in the heart of the Entertainment District, another shooting unfolded. Officers arriving on King Street West, near Spadina Avenue, discovered a man in his twenties wounded outside. Emergency medical personnel immediately initiated life-saving measures before rushing him to the hospital, but details surrounding the incident remained scarce.
The city’s streets held another unsettling development as an investigation led to the seizure of a loaded handgun. Officers with the Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force executed a search warrant on Mount Pleasant Road, uncovering a semi-automatic pistol and a significant amount of ammunition.
Derrick Bowyer, 41, now faces a series of serious charges. He is accused of possessing an unauthorized firearm, a loaded prohibited weapon, and prohibited devices and ammunition. Further compounding the charges, Bowyer is also alleged to have violated existing prohibition orders related to firearm possession.
The weight of past trauma resurfaced with the recent charging of a man in connection with a sexual assault alleged to have occurred last year. Police were alerted to the incident this month, revealing a disturbing account of an encounter in the Entertainment District.
The alleged assault took place after a man invited the accuser back to his apartment. Justin Aguiar, 28, has been arrested and charged with sexual assault, and is scheduled to appear in court on January 14, 2026. The details paint a grim picture of vulnerability and betrayal.
These separate incidents, unfolding within a single day, cast a somber shadow over the city. Investigations continue, seeking to unravel the circumstances surrounding each event and bring those responsible to justice. The pursuit of answers remains paramount as the city grapples with these unsettling realities.
